Mapbox Vector Tiles have become a widely adopted format for delivering geospatial data, enabling dynamic rendering and rich interactivity in modern web mapping applications. Although not an official OGC standard, their open specification has made them a cornerstone of contemporary web cartography.

This presentation examines the evolving capabilities of GeoServer in serving Mapbox Vector Tiles, with a focus on recent enhancements and practical best practices. It will demonstrate how GeoServer leverages flexible styling mechanisms to precisely control tile content, enabling efficient and tailored data delivery. Key configuration options—including label point generation, attribute selection, and feature consolidation—will be discussed as essential tools for optimizing tile output.

The session will also provide actionable guidance for streamlining vector tile generation, supporting the development of scalable and maintainable workflows.

Finally, the presentation will explore the use of vector tiles as a foundation for generating high-quality base maps across multiple coordinate reference systems. Using OpenMapTiles styles in combination with Planetiler, it will showcase how to produce visually consistent, multi-projection base maps suitable for a wide range of applications.

This talk is intended for practitioners seeking to build advanced web mapping solutions or generate custom base maps, offering practical insights into maximizing GeoServer’s vector tile capabilities.